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cut through the original partition wall between two
of these humble houses—­and within this
stood a high tester bed, its heavy mahogany posts beautifully
carved, the couch itself piled deep with foundations
of I know not what of down and spread most daintily
with a coverlid of amber satin, whose edges fringed
out almost to the floor. At the other extremity,
screened off as in a distinct apartment, there stood
a smaller couch, a Napoleon bed, with carved ends,
furnished more simply but with equal richness.
Everywhere was the air not only of comfort, but of
ease and luxury, elegance and sensuousness contending.
I needed no lesson to tell me that this was not an
ordinary apartment, nor occupied by an ordinary owner.

One resented the liberties England took in establishing
this manner of menage in our simple city, and arrogantly
taking for granted our ignorance regarding it; but
none the less one was forced to commend the thoroughness
shown. The ceilings, of course, remained low,
but there was visible no trace of the original architecture,
so cunningly had the interior been treated. As
I have said, the dividing partitions had all been
removed, so that the long interior practically was
open, save as the apartments were separated by curtains
or grilles. The floors were carpeted thick and
deep. Silence reigned here. There remained
no trace of the clumsy comfort which had sufficed
the early builder. Here was no longer a series
of modest homes, but a boudoir which might have been
the gilded cage of some favorite of an ancient court.
The breath and flavor of this suspicion floated in
every drapery, swam in the faint perfume which filled
the place. My first impression was that of surprise;
my second, as I have said, a feeling of resentment
at the presumption which installed all this in our
capital of Washington.

I presume my thought may have been reflected in some
manner in my face. I heard a gentle laugh, and
turned about. She sat there in a great carved
chair, smiling, her white arms stretched out on the
rails, the fingers just gently curving. There
was no apology for her situation, no trace of alarm
or shame or unreadiness. It was quite obvious
she was merely amused. I was in no way ready
to ratify the rumors I had heard regarding her.

She had thrown back over the rail of the chair the
rich cloak which covered her in the carriage, and
sat now in the full light, in the splendor of satin
and lace and gems, her arms bare, her throat and shoulders
white and bare, her figure recognized graciously by
every line of a superb gowning such as we had not
yet learned on this side of the sea. Never had
I seen, and never since have I seen, a more splendid
instance of what beauty of woman may be.

She did not speak at first, but sat and smiled, studying,
I presume, to find what stuff I was made of.
Seeing this, I pulled myself together and proceeded
briskly to my business.